THAT CREDIT BUREAU TO TAKE HER OFF OF THE DEATH LIST. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER PAUL VAN OSDOL IS HERE WITH THAT STORY. Reporter: ANDREW, WENDY, WHEN DIANE TELLS HER FRIENDS ABOUT THIS, THEY LAUGH, BUT SHE SAYS IT'S VERY SERIOUS. SHE'S NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A CAR LOAN OR OPEN UP A CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT, AND SHE'S FED UP. DIANE BROOKS OF GREENFIELD WAS TRYING TO BUY A CAR WHEN THE LOAN OFFICER TOLD HER SHE HAD BEEN DECLARED DEAD. SHE'S LIKE IT SAYS YOU'RE DECEASED ON THIS WHEN I PULL UP YOUR CREDIT. I'M LIKE IMPOSSIBLE, I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE. Reporter: SHE LEARNED A CREDIT CARD COMPANY HAD CONFUSED HER WITH HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, WHO DIED IN 2004. THAT INFORMATION ENDED UP ON HER CREDIT REPORT. WHEN DIANE TRIED TO CORRECT HER REPORT, TWO OF THE MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS, TRANSUNION AND EQUIFAX, QUICKLY BROUGHT HER BACK TO LIFE BUT EXPERION WOULD NOT TAKE HER OFF THE DEATH LIST. YOU LOOK ALIVE TO ME. YOU'RE BREATHING. YES. BUT EXPERION SAYS YOU'RE DEAD. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN DO THAT TO ANYBODY. Reporter: DEATH BY CREDIT BUREAU HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM FOR DIANE. SHE APPLIED FOR A J.C. PENNEY CARD AND SHE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HER CREDIT REPORT SAID SHE WAS DEAD. SHE WAS ALSO DENIED A TARGET CARD, SAME REASON. SHE HAD TO HAVE HER HUSBAND CO-SIGN HER CAR LOAN, AND THAT'S NOT ALL. IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF HAVOC. I COULDN'T GET MY DAUGHTER SCHOOL LOANS FOR COLLEGE. Reporter: IN DESPERATION SHE TURNED TO CREDIT REPAIR SPECIALIST DANIEL COLEMAN. HE GAVE EXPERION INFORMATION HE THOUGHT WOULD PROVE SHE WAS AL ALIVE. WE SENT PAY STUBS. Reporter: IT DID FIX PART OF ITS REPORT, CORRECTING HER NAME AND EMPLOYER INFORMATION, BUT HER CREDIT REPORT CONTINUED TO SAY SHE WAS DEAD. SO THEY'RE SAYING SHE HAS A JOB BUT THEY'RE STILL SAYING SHE'S DEAD? THAT'S CORRECT. SHE'S THE WORKING DEAD. Reporter: CREDIT BUREAUS HAVE 45 DAYS TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT REPORTS DISPUTED BY CONSUMERS, BUT COLEMAN SPENT FOUR MONTHS PUSHING EXPERION TO REVIVE DIANE. I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE. Reporter: THE FTC DECLINED TO COMMENT ABOUT DIANE'S CASE. WE ASKED EXPERION REPEATEDLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT DIANE'S SITUATION. THE COMPANY FINALLY GOT BACK TO US LATE LAST WEEK AND SAID BECAUSE OF OUR INQUIRIES, IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE DECEASED STATUS FROM DIANE'S ACCOUNT. A COMPANY SPOKESMAN TELLS ME THE EXPERION CUSTOMER RELATIONS TEAM HAD TAKEN THE STEPS IN CORRECTING THE CONSUMER'S FILE WHEN SHE FIRST CONTACTED US AND BELIEVED THE ISSUE TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. AFTER YOU CONDUCTED US LAST WEEK, THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS TEAM WAS NOTIFIED AND QUICKLY TOOK ACTION AND WORKED WITH THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY TO HAVE THE FILE CORRECTED. JUST LAST MONTH CHANNEL 4 ACTION NEWS REPORTED A WEXFORD MAN BLAMED EXPERION FOR MAKING HIM A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT. THEY HAVE ALSO FACED CRITICISM FROM CONGRESS FOR THEIR FAILURE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS INFORMATION. DIANE RELIEVED TO HEAR THEY ARE FINALLY TAKING ACTION IN HER CASE, BUT SHE WONDERS WHY IT TOOK SO LONG. IF I DID SOMETHING WRONG OR, YOU KNOW, GOT IN TROUBLE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT I DID. AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DID. Reporter: NOW, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE DECLARED DEAD TO QUESTION WHAT'S IN YOUR CREDIT REPORT. AN FTC STUDY LAST YEAR FOUND ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CONSUMERS HAD AN ERROR IN THEIR CREDIT REPORT. EXPERTS SAY YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR REPORT FROM ALL THREE MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. WE HAVE A LINK TO THE SIGHT WHERE YOU CAN GET FREE CREDIT